Lehighton residents could soon hear the sound of the bell from Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church once again.

The bell and the steeple were removed in July because of a roof leak.

“Some people keep asking when the bell is coming back,” Al Sellers, chairman of the property committee, said.

It often rang to announce services.

A company based in Kentucky, Campbellsville Industries Inc., has the 2,500-pound bell, which dates to 1910, and the steeple from 1972. Originally, the steeple was going to be repaired, but Sellers said the damage to the steel was too much.

Cost for roof work and a new steel steeple was about $115,000. The steeple accounted for about $54,000, Sellers said.

An EF3 tornado touched down in Campbellsville on Dec. 11 and an EF1 2 miles north on Jan. 1. Wind speeds were 140 mph and 105 to 110, respectively, according to the National Weather Service in Louisville.

Homes were destroyed and at least one person died.

There was no damage to the company building, steeple or bell. However, Sellers said a tornado destroyed a home of one of the workers and took the roof off another. To make matters worse, two experienced company workers died unexpectedly.

“We were supposed to have it back for Christmas,” Sellers said of the bell and the steeple.

The new date is March, although an exact day wasn’t provided.

“Everything has been done for the base of the steeple,” he said.

A cradle needs to be built for the bell. Sellers said he is “kind of anxious” for the project to finish. Without them both, it’s not the same, he said.

“It will be really welcomed when it’s back,” church member Mary Ann Hazel said.